Netflix Just Revealed Who It’s Most Fearful Of
The Nickelodeon partnership comes on the heels of Netflix being hit with a one-two punch of the Disney+ launch and its own waning subscriptions. | Credit: Reuters/Mike Blake
- Netflix is getting beat at its own game.
- Disney claims it has signed on more than 10 million subscribers for its Disney+ service.
- Netflix is fighting back with a partnership of its own.
Netflix got the content streaming ball rolling when it launched more than 20 years ago, and now it’s getting beat at its own game. If there was ever any doubt, Netflix just tipped its hand by revealing a new partnership with kid-friendly Nickelodeon .
The deal comes on the heels of Netflix being hit with a one-two punch of the Disney+ launch and its own waning subscriptions. Disney reportedly boasts more than 10 million subscribers already, though to be fair some of those could be free trials.
Nevertheless, whether they meant to or not, Netflix has just admitted that Disney’s family-friendly content is the biggest threat to its wide range of content. No longer does Netflix boast the same competitive moat that it once enjoyed, and it’s open season on the company in this highly competitive market.
The Netflix/Nickelodeon deal will unfold over several years and in addition to TV series will feature – say it with me – animated films. One of the more recognizable series is “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Just about 24 hours ago, Disney+ debuted with a war chest of its own brands ranging from Pixar, to Marvel, to Star Wars, to National Geographic. Netflix appears to have seized an opportunity on the heels of Disney’s launch “flop” after a technical glitch knocked eager viewers off the platform. Still, the effects of that snafu appear to have been only temporary if Disney’s subscriber numbers are any indication.
With names such as Jennifer Aniston, Ellen, Paul Rudd, and Rob Lowe, Netflix is not lacking any star power. And it does cater to kids, with series such as Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham debuting more than a dozen episodes in recent days. But as MoffettNathanson pointed out in a report obtained by CCN.com, Disney has been “buying back content that had been previously licensed to Netflix.” That’s got to hurt.
Netflix is attempting to hit Disney where it hurts by going after the media giant’s demographic. Where Netflix appears to draw the line is subscriber prices, which at just under $13 are higher than Disney+ . It’s a catch-22 for Netflix because it needs the lofty price to offset falling subscriptions,
It’s early days in the content streaming wars, and things are already heating up. If this week is any indication of how intense it’s going to be, you might want to grab the popcorn now because it’s going to be one heck of a show.
